The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FLEMISH PROVERB

AS THE CLOCK TICKS AT HOME, IT TICKS NOWHERE ELSE. ZOOALS HET KLOKJE THUIS TIKT, TIKT HET NERGENS. (FLEMISH)

Submitter comment: THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME WHEN HE WAS VISITING DETROIT, MICH. FROM BELGIUM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN CREATIONS ; ONOMATOPEIA

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; OBSERVATION ; TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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PROVERB

AS UNPLANNED AS A HICCUP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): ONOMATOPEIA

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; INVOLUNTARY ; SPONTANEOUS REACTION

Date learned: 10-00-1971

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A POLISH PROVERB

ZEGAR NIE JE, NIE PYE, A JEDNAK BYE. (POLISH)
TRANSLATION: A CLOCK NEITHER EATS, NOR DRINKS, AND YET HE GOES
ON TICKING.

Where learned: DEARBORN

Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM ; HUMAN CREATIONS ; ONOMATOPEIA

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION

Date learned: 11-21-1967

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PASTIME

THE FOLLOWING IS A VERSE SUNG AND PLAYED BY YOUNG CHILDREN. IT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS HAND MOTIONS WHICH ARE PLAYED AGAINST A
SECOND PERSON'S BACK. MM
GOING ON A TREASURE HUNT
X MARKS THE SPOT.
DOT, DOT, DASH, DASH, QUESTION MARK.
POKE HER HERE,
POKE HER THERE.
CLIMBING UP THE LADDER,
STEP BY STEP,
GUSHING THROUGH THE MUD.
COOL OCEAN BREEZE.
TIGHT SQUEEZE.
AND NOW YOU HAVE THE CHILLS.

Submitter comment: THIS VERSE WAS FIRST HEARD BY THE COLLECTOR IN 1976 FROM A GRADE
SCHOOL AGE SISTER. THIS IS USUALLY CONSIDERED A PASTIME. HOWEVER,
WHEN THE OBJECT IS TO GIVE THE PERSON THE CHILLS, A GOAL IS
ESTABLISHED AND SUCCESS DEPENDS ON ITS ACHIEVEMENT. THE HAND
MOTIONS CORRELATE TO THE LINES SUNG. HERE, GUSHING IS AN EXAMPLE
OF AN ONOMATOPEIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; USA ; SOUTHGATE

James Callow Keyword(s): ONOMATOPEIA: GUSHING

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 06-00-1976

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